To the editor: I actually want this text went into extra element about the entire level of why kindergarten attendance is so vital (“Kindergarten is vital, however sickness, tears make continual absenteeism a problem,” Sept. 22). It’s actually a heck of much more than “Play-Doh and coloring.”
I used to be privileged to have the ability to volunteer in three of my grandchildren’s (ages 11, 9 and seven) public college kindergarten lecture rooms. I spent three hours sooner or later every week for a yr seeing first-hand what these younger kids have been studying. Certain, there was some coloring, however they realized all their letters, numbers and punctuation marks. They realized learn how to add and subtract. They realized about totally different animals and well-known individuals. By the tip of the yr, most of those children have been writing multi-sentence essays (positive, the spelling wasn’t excellent, nevertheless it was a begin), studying books and answering complicated questions. That’s to not point out the event of their socialization abilities and studying to comply with instructions. Because of this it’s vital for younger kids to go to kindergarten. Those that don’t are woefully unprepared for first grade and past.
I can’t assure that each one colleges supply this degree of instruction, however I’m prepared to wager that almost all do. This was not a non-public or constitution college. It was a normal elementary college within the Chino Valley Unified College District. I hope future reporting on this situation explains additional how helpful kindergarten is for a kid’s instructional progress.
Elaine Regus, San Dimas
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To the editor: Like so many articles concerning public training recently, a lot of the blame is positioned on the colleges. The primary half of the article referenced a number of parent-focus teams and their complaints. In brief, colleges must do a greater job of defining continual absences, academics yell, college is boring, and so on. The second half of the article highlighted a number of methods colleges can implement to enhance attendance.
Perhaps I’m misguided, however isn’t it a guardian’s accountability to get their children to high school? Why are we afraid to carry individuals accountable for his or her habits, particularly when it immediately impacts the way forward for their kids? Academics have a whole lot of obligations, however getting children away from bed and on their solution to college will not be certainly one of them. There may be solely a lot colleges can do. They can not repair society’s ills.
It’s OK to carry individuals accountable. My dad and mom did it to me. I do it to my college students each day. And I did it to my very own kids all through the years. We rise to the extent of expectations put upon us. Proper now, we don’t appear to anticipate a lot from dad and mom, and we’re seeing the consequences.
Ray Herrera, Rancho Cucamonga
